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Book Three: The Prophet
Nefudsignaledmentoassisthim,ledthemoutthedoor.
“Wouldyouaccompanymetomychambers,Feyd?”theBaronasked.
“Iamyourstocommand,”Feyd-Rauthasaid.Hebowed,thinking:I’mcaught.
“Afteryou,”theBaronsaid,andhegesturedtothedoor.
Feyd-Rauthaindicatedhisfearbyonlythebaresthesitation.HaveIfailedutterly?heaskedhimself.Willheslipapoisonedbladeintomyback...slowly,throughtheshield?Doeshehaveanalternativesuccessor?
Lethimexperiencethismomentofterror,theBaronthoughtashewalkedalongbehindhisnephew.Hewillsucceedme,butatatimeofmychoosing.I’llnothavehimthrowingawaywhatI’vebuilt!
Feyd-Rauthatriednottowalktooswiftly.Hefelttheskincrawlingonhisbackasthoughhisbodyitselfwonderedwhentheblowcouldcome.Hismusclesalternatelytensedandrelaxed.
“HaveyouheardthelatestwordfromArrakis?”theBaronasked.
“No,Uncle.”
Feyd-Rauthaforcedhimselfnottolookback.Heturneddownthehalloutoftheservants’wing.
“They’veanewprophetorreligiousleaderofsomekindamongtheFremen,”theBaronsaid.“TheycallhimMuad‘Dib.Veryfunny,really.Itmeans‘theMouse.’I’vetoldRabbantoletthemhavetheirreligion.It’llkeepthemoccupied.”
“That’sveryinteresting,Uncle,”Feyd-Rauthasaid.Heturnedintotheprivatecorridortohisuncle’squarters,wondering:Whydoeshetalkaboutreligion?Isitsomesubtlehinttome?
“Yes,isn’tit?”theBaronsaid.
TheycameintotheBaron’sapartmentsthroughthereceptionsalontothebedchamber.
